Stephen M. Young, director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) , said at a luncheon to celebrate the 233rd anniversary of American independence that he has know Stanton for 20 years and described him as "an experienced diplomat and an accomplished China-hand who will do a fantastic job."

Washington announced Wednesday that Stanton, a career diplomat whose most recent assignment was as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, has been selected to serve as the new U.S. representative to Taiwan.

"Like me, he will benefit from your friendship and counsel over the next three years. So I know I will leave Taipei and the AIT in very capable hands," said Young, who serves as the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Quoting former President Lee Teng-hui who said in the late 1990s that "it doesn't matter where you come from, so long as you love Taiwan, you are a new Taiwan person," Young said he considers himself and his family as new Taiwan people, given his five stays in the country since 1963, including three diplomatic postings.

Speaking of U.S.-Taiwan-China relations, Young said the strong ties between Taipei and Washington need not be in competition with the warming relations between Taiwan and China, but rather can compliment the process by providing the island with the confidence to explore better relations with its large neighbor across the Taiwan Strait.

Premier Liu Chao-shiuan, thanked Young at the luncheon for playing a key role in restoring mutual trust between Taiwan and the U.S.

He said that under the Ma Ying-jeou administration's flexible diplomacy policy, the two countries should continue to cooperate in areas such as national defense, education and technology as well as on global issues such as environmental protection.

Young, who assumed the post of AIT director in March 2006, will leave the country July 3. He said that AIT Deputy Director Robert Wang will act as director until Stanton arrives in August.

Under the U.S.' Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, American Institute in Taiwan is authorized to handle commercial, cultural and other links between the U.S. and Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.